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11-25-04, 06:10 PM
from http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=F9B51937-4CD3-4910-8D67-18887FF5B090
Linux meets Ballmer's call for $100 PC
Microsoft Corp CEO Steve Ballmer's recent call for the creation of a $100 PC to help emerging markets has been met with a response by a company called SolarPC with a new Linux-based personal computer.
23 Nov 2004, 11:15 GMT -
Ballmer laid down the challenge for the computer industry to create a $100 PC in October, arguing that it would encourage emerging nations and help to thwart software piracy by reducing total systems costs.
No doubt Ballmer was thinking that any such $100 PC would be running Windows, but Thousand Oaks, California-based SolarPC has managed it with the Linux-based SolarLite. Due for launch in December, SolarLite is a rugged book-sized PC with a Compact Flash drive loaded with software.
The SolarLite will be based on VIA Technologies Inc long-life chipset technologies and is designed to run on 12-volt power via solar panels, car batteries, or even human-powered generators. The software for the SolarLite is provided by the DSL (Desktop/Damn Small Linux) project, a bootable Live CD Linux distribution.
SolarPC also announced plans to give away a million SolarLite computers to schools in emerging countries around the world via the Global Education Link project.
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I'm going to celebrate it right now! A few glasses of wine to the good health of SolarPC, Linux and now miserable Mr. Ballmer. He made my day.
Linux meets Ballmer's call for $100 PC
Microsoft Corp CEO Steve Ballmer's recent call for the creation of a $100 PC to help emerging markets has been met with a response by a company called SolarPC with a new Linux-based personal computer.
23 Nov 2004, 11:15 GMT -
Ballmer laid down the challenge for the computer industry to create a $100 PC in October, arguing that it would encourage emerging nations and help to thwart software piracy by reducing total systems costs.
No doubt Ballmer was thinking that any such $100 PC would be running Windows, but Thousand Oaks, California-based SolarPC has managed it with the Linux-based SolarLite. Due for launch in December, SolarLite is a rugged book-sized PC with a Compact Flash drive loaded with software.
The SolarLite will be based on VIA Technologies Inc long-life chipset technologies and is designed to run on 12-volt power via solar panels, car batteries, or even human-powered generators. The software for the SolarLite is provided by the DSL (Desktop/Damn Small Linux) project, a bootable Live CD Linux distribution.
SolarPC also announced plans to give away a million SolarLite computers to schools in emerging countries around the world via the Global Education Link project.
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I'm going to celebrate it right now! A few glasses of wine to the good health of SolarPC, Linux and now miserable Mr. Ballmer. He made my day.